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gwendolynlerman · 6 years ago

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Discovering the world

Liberia 🇱🇷

Basic facts

Official name: Republic of Liberia

Capital city: Monrovia

Population: 5.4 million (2023)

Demonym: Liberian

Type of government: unitary presidential republic

Head of state and government: Joseph Boakai (President)

Gross domestic product (purchasing power parity): $9.71 billion (2023)

Gini coefficient of wealth inequality: 35.3% (medium) (2016)

Human Development Index: 0.487 (low) (2022)

Currency: Liberian dollar (LRD)

Fun fact: It is the oldest republic in Africa.

Etymology

The country’s name comes from Latin liber (“free”), as it was established by former U.S. enslaved people.

Geography

Liberia is located in West Africa and borders Guinea to the north, Côte d’Ivoire to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the south, and Sierra Leone to the northwest.

There are three climates: dry-winter tropical savanna in the east, tropical rainforest in the south, and tropical monsoon in the rest. Temperatures range from 24 °C (75.2 °F) in winter to 27 °C (80.6 °F) in summer. The average annual temperature is 25.7 °C (78.2 °F).

The country is divided into fifteen counties, which are further divided into 90 districts. The largest cities in Liberia are Monrovia, Gbarnga, Buchanan, Ganta, and Kakata.

History

12th-16th century: migration of indigenous peoples

1462: first contact with Europeans

1821-1847: Colony of Liberia

1847-present: Republic of Liberia

1989-1997: First Liberian Civil War

1999-2003: Second Liberian Civil War

Economy

Liberia mainly imports from Singapore, China, and South Korea and exports to Germany, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates. Its top exports are iron ore, gold, and rubber.

It has diamond, gold, and iron reserves. Services represent 52.2% of the GDP, followed by agriculture (34%) and industry (13.8%).

Liberia is a member of the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States.

Demographics

The Kpelle are the largest ethnic group (20.3%), followed by the Bassa (13.4%), Grebo (10%), Dan (8%), Mano (7.9%), Kru (6%), Lorma (5.1%), Kissi (4.8%), Gola (4.4%), Krahn (4%), Vai (4%), Mandinka (3.2%), and Gbandi (3%). The main religion is Christianity, practiced by 85.1% of the population, 76.3% of which is Protestant.

It has a negative net migration rate and a fertility rate of 4 children per woman. 53.1% of the population lives in urban areas. Life expectancy is 65.4 years and the median age is 18 years. The literacy rate is 48.3%.

Languages

The official language of the country is English. Kpelle is a recognized language, but indigenous languages are the first language of a small percentage of the population.

Culture

Liberian traditions have their roots in the American South. The country has a rich history in textile arts and quilting.

Men traditionally wear a round-necked shirt (via) and pants. Women wear a loose-fitting blouse (buppa), a long skirt tied at the waist (lappa), and a headdress.

Architecture

Traditional houses in Liberia are made of mud bricks and have thatched roofs.

Cuisine

The Liberian diet is based on fish, meat, rice, and vegetables. Typical dishes include dumboy (balls of boiled cassava), peanut soup, rice bread, sweet potato pone (a cake made with coconut milk and sweet potatoes), and toborghee (a stew of beans and meat).

Holidays and festivals

Like other Christian countries, Liberia celebrates Christmas Day. It also commemorates New Year’s Day and Thanksgiving.

Specific Liberian holidays include Armed Forces Day on February 11, Decoration Day on the second Wednesday of March, Joseph Jenkins Roberts’ Birthday on March 15, Fast and Prayer Day on the second Friday of April, National Unification Day on May 14, Independence Day on July 26, Flag Day on August 24, and William V. S. Tubman’s Birthday on November 29.

Independence Day

Other celebrations include the Kukatornon Cultural Festival, which celebrates Kpelle culture; the Liberian National Cultural Festival, which features dance, music, and parades, and Poro Society, a male rite of passage.

Liberian National Cultural Festival

Landmarks

There are no UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Landmarks include the Centennial Pavilion, Gola National Forest, the Kpatawee Waterfall, Mount Nimba, and the Sacred Heart Cathedral.